Paris Hilton Sentenced to Jail

Los Angeles Superior Court judge Michael Sauer sentenced Paris Hilton to 45 days in jail for violating her terms of probation. She was ordered to report to jail on June 5th. To Americans who have become accustomed to the rich and famous being treated differently in America the ruling is a breath of fresh air. It was probably quite a surprise to Paris Hilton.

Earlier this year Hilton was given three years probation stemming from a September arrest for drunk and reckless driving. She pleaded no contest to the first arrest. Police stopped her in January and she was told at the time she was on a suspended license, even signing to a document acknowledging the fact. She was again stopped in February while driving down Sunset Boulevard without headlights. Police impounded her Bentley.

Her spokesman said after the second incident that Paris Hilton was not aware she was driving on a suspended license. A signed copy of the suspension order was found in the glove compartment of the Bentley. Hilton was also required to enroll in an alcohol education program by February 12th, and she had neglected to do so.

Hilton tried to tell the judge she was not aware that her license had been suspended. She said she didn't know what she was signing when she put her signature on the document indicating her driving privileges had been revoked.

"I'm very sorry and from now on I'm going to pay complete attention to everything. I'm sorry and I did not do it on purpose at all." She told the judge prior to the sentence being handed down. The judge apparently has heard the "I didn't know" defense before. And this time the rich and famous person in front of him was treated like someone who had violated her probation, not as a celebrity in court. Refreshing indeed.

Showing that the fruit didn't fall far from the tree, Paris Hilton's mother Kathy Hilton laughed at the prosecutor when the prosecutor suggested jail time. When the judge handed down the sentence she mocked him with "May I have your autograph?" She also called the proceedings "a joke" and "this is a pathetic reality show." At one point a baliff had to tell her to be quiet.